But those investors don’t now plan to turn around and sell those properties they bought dirt cheap. No, they’ll rent them out. Hanging onto their new assets buys time until more markets recover from the last housing bubble burst.

This scheme is likely to work, especially if those big players have enough patience. In the meantime, those foreclosed homeowners will be forced to rent.

County executives there win elections on the strength of their promise to keep poor people out. But this situation has gotten dicey. The courts sided last year with the federal government over its withholding of millions of dollars in funds out of concern over how the county failed to meet housing guidelines.

The working class is feeling the pinch too. In the 25 largest markets, rents are rising at a far faster pace than inflation.

But those investors don’t now plan to turn around and sell those properties they bought dirt cheap. No, they’ll rent them out. Hanging onto their new assets buys time until more markets recover from the last housing bubble burst.

This scheme is likely to work, especially if those big players have enough patience. In the meantime, those foreclosed homeowners will be forced to rent.

County executives there win elections on the strength of their promise to keep poor people out. But this situation has gotten dicey. The courts sided last year with the federal government over its withholding of millions of dollars in funds out of concern over how the county failed to meet housing guidelines.

The working class is feeling the pinch too. In the 25 largest markets, rents are rising at a far faster pace than inflation.